Splint-drying means for match-machines.



J. c. 'DONNELLY! SPLINT DRYING MEANS FOR MATCH MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.19, 1912.

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J. O. DONNELLY. SPLINT DRYING MEANS FOR MATGH MACHINES. APYLIOATIONFILED NOV. 19. 1912. 1 Q'7Q QZQ Patented Aug. 12; 1913.

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J. c. DONNELIQY. SPLINT DRYING MEANS FOR MATCH MACHINES. APPLICATIONFILED NOV.19, 1912.

1,0?Q02Q, Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

age/@300: JS v ({6 9 0/1 20 1 J. C. DONNELLY. SPLINT DRYING MEANS FORMATCH MACHINES. APPLICATION IYILED NOV. 19, 1912. 1 7 QGO Patented Aug.12, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W M 4a pz /w J. c. DONNBLLY. SPLINT DRYING MEANS FOR MATCH MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19. 1912.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

QW MM .0 W M M m n WM 00% 1a m H0 w 'J. 0. DONNELLY.

SPLINT DRYING MEANS FOR MATCH MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1912.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

6 SHEETSSHEET B.

barren salaries Parana? snares.

JOSEPH o. DONNELLY, OF nnnnnnrron, oHro, assmmom ,jro THE DIAMOND MATCH,

COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOI$, A 'CORPOEK'EIGN F ILII'INOIS.

sinner-DRYING MEANS roe. aasca'aicmms.

Specificatioii of Letters I atent.

Patented Aug. iaieia.

a plication meant-winter is, late. semi no; name.

UO'NNELLY,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of Barbertom in the countyof Summit and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Splint-Drying Means for Match-Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to means for dryin match splints, moreparticularly splints W ich have been impregnatedvvith a $0111 tion of achemical or chemicals which reflder the splints non-glovvingafter thesame,

,. as finished matches, have been ignited and the flame exting'tiished.

The invention. is especially ada t ted for use in connection With, or asan at achinent for, that class of continuous match machines wherein thesplints are progressively 'set in parallel rows in an endless carrierand thereby transported through the matchmaking ath, and in thatrelation it has been primarily designed to carry out in an economicaland elficient manner the splint drying step of the process described inLetters Patent of the United States No. I,O'44,1 5 3,' dated November12, 1912. Such process, briefly described, consists in impregnating thesplints with a solution of chemic l? 0f the character above mentioned,and then subjecting the Wet impregnatedsplints, held in spaced relationto each other, to the action of a bath of material which is imperviousto Water, the said bath being maintained at a temperature suliicient toexpel the solvent from the splint-s in the form of steam or vapor.

My invention concerns tlle operation of subjecting the splints to theaction ofa bath of highly-heated granular material, such as metallicpellets, in a mannerto effect the rapid and thorough drying of thesplints; and, broadly considered, comprises ,a struc: ture wherein-thesaid material is fed in a continuous stream to and along the p'ath ofthe Wet splints as the latter are 'elled spaced relation to eachother-by t e splint carrier.

The invention also comprises' various novel features of construction andoperation whereby advantages are secured,'as Will be hereinafterdescribed and claimed. ,1 In the drawings Fi 're 1 is a sectional planof a drier, enibo ying a good form of invention, certainparts being.broken away and one of the bottom plates of the.

drying trough being removed in order to expose elements otherwiseconcealed. In this view a" fragment of the splint carrier is indicated.-Fig. 2 is a full longitudinal iierticel section 'ofthe apparatus, as onthe line 2--2 of Fig. 1; the impregnatin tank and a part (if the splintcarrier as oaded with s ints, being Shawn. In this view the stream ofgranular drying-material is illustrated. ,Fig'. 3 is a' similar section,as on the line 33 of Fig. 1; the Wall of the chambered section beingbroken away to expose p'arts (if the burners and their adjuncts. 4 is atransverse vertical section of. the

apparatus, as on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar section,enlarged, of the upper pa ter the salamaas on the lin 5-5 or Fig.2. Fig;6 is a transverse section, as on theiri gul'ar line as of Fig. 2. F 7is" a transverse horizontal section through one" end of the apparatu asonthe Hes 7--7. of F ig". 21 Fig. 8 is a transverse section thrbngt therotary electro-magnets and tlfeifiadjtinets, as on the line 88 of Fig.2. Fig. 9 is a detai1',-enlar ed, of the cdntaet rings and-brushes of te electromagnets. Rig, iOis a sectional detail of the oiiterend of oneof the fpe'ep tubes. Fig; Ll is a similar detiiil of theouter end of oneprimary ignition tubes for the burners;v I

AL designates a portion of an endless carrier of any known or approvedtype into which the s 'liiits are inserted in consecutive 'rotvsand a ethus transported in spaced relatioiiitb each other through the matchmak- I r ates a tank, 'suitably-located beneath the carrier, adaptedtocontain a solution of a suitable cheinieal or chemicals into which therovvs of depending splints on the chain are progressively dipped to adepth B esi ea iest impreg ation, (i the splints; at Cristian .orchemicals beingof such a naand for ai period sufieient toaccomplish theture as to render the splints non-glowing after the s' plirits, asfinished matches, have been ig fiitd -and eitinguis'hed. This tank issupport-edit; any suitable manner, and the track for the ehain isappropriately constructed toefict the depressionof the travcling platesor sections above the top of the I its intended purpose. I

are similar in construction, except that they tank so as to dip thesplints in the impregnating solution, and then raise such plates orsections to withdraw the splints from the solution and permit theprogress of the carrier with the impregnated splints.

C. designates the splint-drying structure which is so constructed andorganized that the traveling carrier bearing the wet impregnated splintsis directed therethrough and the splints are rapidly and thoroughlydried. This structure, in its preferred form, includes a trough into andthrough which the depending splints are impelled by the carrier. Thebottom of this trough is inclined and the carrier is directed in a pathparallel thereto, or substantially so; suitable rails a for the supportand guidance of the carrier in its travel being provided at the sides ofthe structure. Y

As herein illustrated the main body of the structure comprises threesections 12, 12, 13, which are bolted together to constitute acasing ofsuflicient shape and size for The outer sections 12 p are right andleft, and each includes an surrounded by, and intimately subjected toouter side wall 14 and a bottom 15 terminating in up-rising end walls16. The middle section 13 includes a chambered portion 17 and e dextensions 18, and it is interposed between he lateral sections toprovide therewith two corresponding side chambers 19 and front andrearward chambers 20, 21, re-..

spectively, the functions of all 'of which will hereinafter appear.middle section, terminates slightly below that of the others, and is;provided-with lateral ledges, which, in conjunction with similar ledgeson the inner sides of thesections 12, support two inclined plates 22.These plates constitute the bottom of the trough above referred to.Through this trough flows a stream of granular heat-conducting material23 into which the splints on the carrier depend during their travelthrough the trough, such splints thus being the action of, the mobilegranular constit uents of the said material. "This material,

in a highly-heated state, is caused to travel 1 by and w th the splints,and thus effect a progressive evaporation of the solvent from .theimpregnated splints.

The constituent units of the drying material are preferably pellets,globular in form, or substantially so, so as to be freely movable andthus present only slight resistance to the opposing splints. Thesepellets may be highly-heated before their delivery to the trough, but Iprefer to heat them during their-travel therein while they are in actualcontact with the splints, as

thereby a more eflicient drying action is insured. Accordingly I arrangewithin the casing, directly beneath the bottom of the ture, each of thetubes being furnished at The top of the also provided for the lowerburners.

trough, burners 24 for gas or other fuel. In'the present instance thereis a series of Bunsen burners beneath each bottom' portion22 of thetrough, such burners extending through the side of the structure andbeing provided with suitable regulating valves 25. The burners areconveniently lighted through tubes 26 provided for that purpose in therespective sides of the strucits outer end with a hinged transparent cap27 which is normally held in closed position by a suitable spring-latch,as 28. (See Fig.

11). That the flames at the burners may be readily viewed, I prefer toprovide in the walls of the structure a series of peep tubes 29. Thesetubes are arranged in line with the tops of the burners, and their outerends are covered by transparent material 30, such as isinglass, which isheld in place by a ring 31. (See Fig. 10). The flames from the burners24 impinge di rectly against the undersides of the bottom plates 22,.and the products of combustion pass thence into ducts 32 formed in theinner walls of the respective sections of the casing, .thence to acommon chamber 33 at one end of the casing, thence to and through anexhaust pipe 34 leading from said, chamher to a suitable pointof'discharge. The

bottom plates are preferably provided on their undersides with ribs 35,extending longitudinally thereof, through which are openings 36 for thefree passage of the products of combustion.

The mass of hot pellets tends to roll by gravity to the lower rearwardend of the inclinedbottom 22 of the trough, their descent beingmaterially assisted by the traveling splints. Thence they are discharged.upon suitably-disposed lower plates 37 which, being inclined in anopposite direction to the bottom of the trough as illustrated, directthem to the forward end of I the casing. Thereupon the pellets are '110raised to the upper receiving end of the trough, for a repetition oftheir travel, as

will hereinafter appear. Withinethe cas ing beneath the lower plates 37,are also provided burners 24 for gas or other fuel, whereby the pelletswhile passing along such plates are heated and effectually dried; Thdburners are herein illustrated, similarly .to those above described, asof the Bunsen type. They extend through the bottom of they casing, andare likewise provided with the usual regulating valves 25. Primaryignition tubes 26 and peep tubes 29 are The flames from these burnersimpinge directly against the underside of the plates 37, and theproducts of combustion therefrom pass thence into. the ducts 32 and arefinally discharged through the pipe 34 as above described with respectto the upper burners,

a ovopee The-pliites 37 are preferably ribbed on their undersidesSimilarly to the upper plates conmeshing-gear wheels "39" on theirrespective shafts; the desired quantity and depth of the mass of'pelletswithin thetrough being o governed *by the 'speedof the magnets.

Referring to Figs. :2, 3 and 7, 40 indicates the cores of the magnetsand 41 the coils thereof. Thefwires for the coils pass through thecentrally bored ends of the shafts 39 respectively, and are connected tocontact rings 42'" which are mounted on, and

insulated from,' said-shafts. Electrical contact with these rings iseffected by brushes 43 to which are connected the wires 44 leadw ingfrom a suitable-sourceof-electric energy.

The lower magnet in its rotation progres' sively attracts the pellets atthe proximate end o'f the plates 37 and carries them to the spacebetween the magnets. A suitablydisposed scraper 45 bearing upon thesurface of the lower magnet strips the pellets therefrom-and deflectsthem toward the upper-magnet, which latter in its rotation attracts thepellets and-carries them toward the bottom of the trough. A scraper 46strips the pellets from the upper magnet and deflects :them upon thebottom of.'the trough. Thus a'eOntinuous circulation, so to say,of themass-of pellets within'the casirlgis'efi'ected; the heated pellets whilepassing through the trough being maintained at a'subst-antially uniformdepth and accomplishing the drying of {the splints rapidly andthoroughly, and-said pellets-while moving along the lower incline beingsubjected, in turn, to the drying action of the heat from theunderlying'burners.

In order-that the vapor or steamevolved from the solvent in the splintsduring the drying operation-shall be readily removed,

the following construction is-employed; reference being had to Figs. 1,3, 4 and5; 47 is an elongated cap or channeled member, which is arrangedupon the middle'section 13 of :the structure so as to bridge-from end toend the chamber 17, of the latter and in effect medially partition thetrough 'for'the splints and pellets. The sides of this channeled memberare provided with numerous perforations 48 which afl'ord vents for airsuitable point of discharge,.and thus the-va-' ,two spaced plates 52which inclose the sides,

which-is supplied to the chamber 17 by means of a pipe 49 opening-intothe bottom of thelatter. The air upon its entrance to the chamber isheated by contact with the walls of the latter, which air, escapingthrough the vents 48, is effectually diffused throughout the trough andacross thev path of the splints within the latter. This heated air, isdirected to a pipe '50 leading r01 .a

or or steam evolved from the solventin the impregnated splints iscarried ofi. In the present instance the escape pipe 50 leads from achamber 51, formed by and between ends and bottom of thestructure, asuitable space for a jacket of insulating material 53 tio'ns55of thestructure, but communicatlon between such ends of the chamber and theadjacent portions of the interior of the structure are afiordedbysuitably-disposed passages 56. v In the drawings the-course of the aircurrent throughout the structure is indicated by plain arrows. Thiscurrent in its passage -not onlycarries off-the vapor or steam evolvedfrom-the solvent in the impregnated splints, but it also contributes tothe dry-. ing operation. Furthermore it removes anyslivers or brokensplints which are lodged in the cllets-or which-maybe rubbed from 5the-splmts'by their contact with the pellets. I In this connection it isto be noted that as a. means to spread and shake up the mass of pelletsas they leave the trough, and thus facilitate the removal of thecontained shvno ers or broken splints by the an current, I arrangewithin the rearward spaces 21 of the structure, just below the dschargeend of the trough, transverse bars 57, which 1n- Q tercept thedescending materlal. A down- 5 wardly extending ledge 58 secured to thisend of the structure, serves to direct the current from the spaces 21 tothe adjacent dis-' charge passage 56- and thusaid the escape of thesplints and slivers.

It is to be understood that I do not confine myself to the particularform or details of construction herein shown and described, .as thesame'm'ay'be variously modified withstructure comprising means forsupplying 13c heated granular material to the path of the splints duringtheir travel,

- 2. In splint drying means for match mak ing machines having a splintcarrier, a

structure comprising means for feeding a stream of heated granularmaterial into the 'path of and along with-the splints during theirtravel.

3. In splint drying means for match making machines having a splintcarrier, a structure comprising means for feeding granular material intothe path" of and along with the splints during their travel, and meansfor heating said material during its progress with the splints.

4. In splint drying means for match mak ing machines having a splintcarrier, a structure comprising means for supplying a stream of granularmaterial to the path of the splints during their travel, means forheating said material during its progress with the splints, andmeansifor heating said material after its action upon the splints.

5. In splint drying means for match machines having a splint carrier, astructure comprising means for establishing a continuous circulation ofheated granular material through a path intersecting that of the splintson the carrier.

6. In splint drying means for match malt-- ing machines having a splintcarrier, a structure comprising means for supplying a stream of granularmaterial to the path of the splints during their travel, means. for

heating said material during itsprogress With the splints, means forheating said material after its action upon the splints, and means forreturning said material to the supplying means.

7. In splint drying means for match machines'having a splint carrier, astructure comprising a support adjacent to which the splints dependduring their-travel, a lower support, and means for raisinggranularmaterial from .the lower support tothe upper support and into the pathof thetraveling splints, whereby the said material is carried alongthe-upper support by the said splints and discharged therefrom upon thelower support.

8. In splint drying means for match making machines having asplintcarrier, a structure comprising an lnclmed support adjacent to which thesplints depend during their travel, and means: for feedingv pelletsofheat-conducting material to the upper end of said trough, whereby suchpellets are caused to pass upon and along said trough and into the pathof the traveling splints, and means for heating the said pellets.

9. In splint drying means for match mak ing machines having a splintcarrier, a

structure comprising a support into which the splints depend duringtheir travel, magnets for supplying metallic pellets to the dischargedfrom said support.

said support, whereby said pellets are fed into the path of and alongwith the traveling splints, means for heating-the pellets, and means forreturning the pellets to the field of the magnets after the pellets are10. In splint drying means for match making machines having a splintcarrier, a structure comprising a support adjacent to which the splintsdepend during their travel,

a rotary magnet at one end of said support,

means for supplying metallic pellets to said magnet, and means fordeflecting the pellets from the magnet to the said support and into thepath of the splints.

11. In splint drying means for match making machines having a splintcarrier, a structure comprising a support adjacent to which the splintsdepend during their travel,

a rotary magnet at one end of said support, means for supplying metallicpellets to said- "lower to the upper support,'whereby said material isfed into the path of and along with the splints, and is thencedischarged upon the lower support and returned thereby to the saidtransfer means, and means for heating the said material during itsprogress on the upper support.

13. In splint drying means for match making machines having a splintcarrier, a structure comprising upper and lower supports inclined inopposite directions to each other, means for guiding the splint carrierabove the upper support so that the depending splints travel adjacentthe latter, rotary magnets and scrapers coacting therewith fortransferring metallic pellets fromthelower to the upper support, wherebysaid pellets are fed into the path of and along with the splints, andare thence discharged upon the lower support andreturned thereby '00 thesaid magnets, and means for heating the said pellets during theirprogress on the upper support. 1

151. In asplint drier, a structure comprising upper and lower supportsinclined in opposite directions to each other, means for guidinga-splint carrier above the upper support so that the depending splintstravel adjacent the latter, means for transferring v drying materialfrom the lower to the up- 1 per support, whereby said material is fedand is thence discharge upon the lower support and returned thereby tothe said transfer means, burners below the uppersupport, burners belowthe lower support, a discharge pipe for the products of combustion, andducts leading from the burner chambers to said pipe.

15. In a splint drier, a structure comprising a support or splint-dryingpellets, a

chambered member beneath the same, a laterally-perforated cap on saidmember, ex-

tending longitudinally of the support and communicating with the spaceabove the same, means for heating said chamber, and means for supplyingair to said chamber.

16. In a splint drler, a structure comprising a support forsplint-drying finaterial, means for supplying a stream of said materialto the support, spaced-walls incasing the structure and providing kanair space in communication with the path of the drying material, and anexhaust pipe leading from said air-space.

17. In a splint drier, a sup. ort for splint drying pellets, means forsupp ying a stream of pellets thereto, and means for establishing an aircurrent across the path of the pellets in order to carry off splints andslivers which are mixed with the pellets.

18. In a splint drier, a support for granular splint-drying material,means f0r sup- Y plying a stream of said material to the support, andmeans for breaking up the mass of material as it passes from saidsupport.

19'. In a splint drier, a support for granular splint-drying material,means for supplying a stream of said material to the support, means forbreaking up the mass of material as it'passes from said support, andmeans for removing the splints and slivers which are mixed with the saidmaterial.

20. In a splint drier, a structure comprising a support for granulardrying material, means for supplying a stream of such material to thesupport, and bars arranged below the discharging end of said supportadapted to break up the mass'of material as it passes from the saidsupport.

Signed at Barberton, 1n the county of Summit and State of Ohio this 11thday of

